The Army has expanded eligibility for earning combat patches to soldiers deployed across 14 countries in the Middle East and Africa, a shift that comes as attacks from Iran and its sanctioned militias ...

STUTTGART, Germany — Combat patches are now authorized for U.S. soldiers who deployed to a select group of countries in the Middle East and Africa over roughly the past two years, the Army announced ...

Soldiers who deployed in 14 countries between October 2023 and June 2025 are eligible to wear the patches on their uniform sleeves. By Nicholas Slayton Published Jul 5, 2025 2:10 PM EDT U.S. Army ...

Eligibility for the patch "does not authorize pay entitlements such as hostile fire pay, imminent danger pay, or combat zone tax exclusion," the Army noted. United States Army soldiers who were ...

Soldiers assigned with the 2nd Battalion, 15th Field Artillery Regiment, receive their Shoulder Sleeve Insignia for Military Operations in Hostile Conditions. (2nd Lt. Daphney Black/Army) Soldiers who ...

The Army expanded eligibility for the shoulder sleeve insignia for military operations in hostile conditions, commonly known as the "combat patch," for Soldiers deployed to select countries between ...